Coach on hunt for Heartland hopefuls

Carterton's inspirational leader Johnie McFadzean on the charge against Pioneer last weekend. PHOTO/CHRIS KILFORD

THE MICROSCOPE is out on players keen to represent Wairarapa-Bush in the Heartland rugby championship this year.

That's the word from the union's head coach Josh Syms, who has named an extended squad of 42 to prepare for 40-minute "friendlies" against Horowhenua-Kapiti and Wellington on May 31.

Syms said those players now had to show they had the necessary skills -- plus the commitment -- to play at the higher level.

"Basically they are on trial. Between three or four more training sessions and these couple of hit-outs they have a great opportunity to put their hands up and say, hey pick me."

At the same time, however, Syms is at pains to emphasise that players not named in the extended squad are still in the reckoning, that performances in club rugby were also being scrutinised closely.

"The door is definitely not closed, there's still time for others to push their way through as well."

As for the need to bring in "imports" to help boost certain areas of the Heartland side, Syms said that was always a possibility but that locals were being given the first chance to lay claims for selection.

He conceded, however, that the depth in some positions such as halfback, midfield backs and prop was probably not as great as he would like and, consequently, some "tinkering" may need to be done there.

On the interclub scene the premier division match between Gladstone and Eketahuna will be played under lights at Gladstone tonight, kicking off at 7.30pm. As has already been well documented, Eketahuna will almost certainly have to win this match to keep any hopes of snatching the Kapene Cup honours off Carterton at the last gasp but victory won't come easy against a Gladstone side sure to give them plenty to think about, especially up front.

The other three premier division games will be played tomorrow with Pioneer keen to ice the cake on their old timers' day with victory over Martinborough at Jeans Street. These two clubs have had some right royal battles in the past and if Pioneer's ranks are as depleted as they were in the big loss to Carterton last weekend, the odds of a Martinborough upset will shorten for sure.

Greytown will start favourites against East Coast on the artificial turf at Memorial Park No1. The defending Tui Cup champions give the impression they are just starting to hit their straps and it will take something special from the Coasters to pull off this one.

Depending on the result of the Friday game Carterton could be going into their match against Marist at Carterton knowing that a victory could see them bag the Kapene Cup for first-round winners.

Marist have enough individual talent to keep Carterton on their toes but the maroons appeal as the most structured of all the premier division sides and that attribute has served them mighty well thus far. Johnie McFadzean has been an inspirational leader up front and it seems a pity he is playing some of his best rugby at a time when he has decided to pull the plug on a representative career.